Improvement in apparatus for preserving food



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

J. P. SGHMITZ. Apparatus for Preserving Food.

Patented June 9,1874.

WItne sses 2 Sheets "Sheet 2 4 J. PLSCHMITZ. Apparatus for Preserving Food.

Patented June 9,1874.

F .5 l El l F l UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

7 JOHN P. SGHMITZ, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

|MPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING FO OD.

Specification forming palt of'Letters Patent No. 151,920, dated June 9, 1874; application filed n.

March 9, 1874. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN PETER SOHMITZ, of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Preserving Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 3 a horizontal section, Fig. 4 an end view, and Fig. 5 is an end view, of the preservingchamber proper. Figs. 6 and 7 are longitudi- Ila-l sections of the apparatus, illustrating different modes of lighting the burner.

The object of my invention is an improvement in the class of preserving apparatus, for liquids and solids, which are based on the principle of the abstraction of oxygen from, or formation of an atmospheric vacuum in, the case or chamber containing the substances to be preserved.

The improvement relates to featuresof construction and arrangement hereinafter de scribed and claimed.

The tank or case A, which is represented as oblong and rectangular, may be of any other desired or suitable shape. It has a large and small compartment, P and R, and an air-tight cover, B, which is intended to be removable. For convenience of insertion and removal of liquid or solid substances the cover is provided with the opening 0, which has also an air-tight cover. A glass plate, D, enables the condition of the substance in the tank to be conveniently inspected without removing the coverr Plates G are also arranged in the side of compartment R, for purposes of inspection. The vertical partition N, between the compartments P and R, has several lengthwise slots, in each of which is fitted a long cylindrical plug, L, whichis also slotted, so that when a wrench is applied to its polygonal head E, projecting through the top of the case or tank, it may be turned to open or close communication between the compartments 1? and R. -A vertical slot is formed in the end wall M of the tank, and provided with a slotted plug, L, through which the taper, match, or electric lighter is inserted to ignite the burner 0. Oil is supplied to the burner by means of a pipe, having a vertical arm, which is provided with funnel Hand cocks I I, the latter being so located as to close the passage to the burner O, or to allow the oil in the horizontal part of the pipe to be drawn off through the downward extension of the vertical arm. A joint, X, enables the pipe to be detached when required for use elsewhere, or in connection with another apparatus. A conical plate, S, is suspended over the burner O, and a tube, V, leads therefrom into compartment R, to conduct surplus heat thereinto, when occasion requires. A vertical plate or partition, Q, is arranged within compartment R, parallel and near to slotted partition N, and a drain-pipe, K, is applied to the bottom of the tank immediately beneath it. This partition forms practically one end of the chamber B.

When solid substances are placed in the preserving-chamber R I employ a skeletonframe or basket, T, of rectangular form, for containing them.

When the substance to be preserved has been placed in compartment R the cover B is tightly closed, and the burner ignited by a taper, or electric wires connected with a battery, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 6 and 7, either of which is inserted through plug L, in the end wall M. The plug L is then closed, the plugs L, in partition N, opened, and the flame allowed to burn as long as possible, or so long as there is sufficient oxygen within the tank to support combustion. WVhen the flame dies out, which may be perceived through glass-plates G, the plugs L are closed.

The air or oxygen may be still more thoroughly exhausted by repeating the operation, to wit, by again allowing air to enter compartment P, and then igniting the burner, closing the plug L, and opening plugs L, as before.

\V hat I claim is 1. The tank or case provided with compartments separated by a partition having slots and plugs, and an opening in the end Wall of one of said compartments, Which is similarly provided with aplng' for closing it, all combined as shown and described.

2. The feed-pipe, applied to the tank, and having cocks I for controlling flow of oil to the burner, and its discharge therefrom, all

combined as shown and described.

3. The conducting-tube V, and conical plate S, in combination with the burner and compartments P and R, as shown and described.

JOHN PETER SOHMITZ. IL. s.j Vitnesses:

JACOB MUELLER, CARL KRAUsE. 

